Brennan’s diagnosis of mantle cell sarcoma came after a 30-year remission from a childhood cancer, Ewing sarcoma, a form of bone cancer that he was diagnosed with when he was 5.

Last year he found a little lump and thought it might be a hernia. But doctors at South Shore Hospital in Weymouth, Mass., did a biopsy and diagnosed him with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Brennan then went to Dana-Farber to seek care for this particular type of cancer, however Brennan was re-diagnosed with mantle cell sarcoma, a rare form of cancer.

“Everyone has a ‘rare form of cancer,’ just so you know,” Brennan said, jokingly. “But the treatment for this type of cancer is different,” he said.

After receiving the stem cell transplant last June, he had intense chemotherapy as well.

“I had enough chemo to knock 10 people down,” he said.

Brennan spent eight nights in the hospital, with the first five days undergoing the intense chemotherapy. He was then placed in a “clean room” to avoid germs and contaminants.

“You’re weak after being injected with 30 million stem cells and then all of the chemo,” he said. “Then when they send you home, you’re supposed to stay in your bedroom for a month. I stayed in my bedroom for three hours!”

Brennan admits it was very difficult to lie down and do nothing.

“I’m not like that,” he said.

Despite being in remission for about a year, Brennan still needs to have immunization shots before his doctors will consider allowing him to go back to work. He expects he will have his shots in June or July. While he enjoys being at home with his family, he feels the need to get up and do things.

“I’ve had to beg for every liberty from my doctors,” he said.

One such liberty he will get permission to participate in is the second annual PMC (Pan-Massachusetts Challenge) Hingham Kids Ride, which will take place Sunday. Brennan’s oldest son, Harrison, participated in the event last year, but Brennan could not attend.

“I didn’t get to see Harrison do it,” he said, wistfully. “But he was invited to ride on the float at the Fourth of July parade, and I was able to see him on the float, but only from a distance.”

Harrison will ride again this year, along with his two younger siblings and many cousins.

The ride at Hingham High School is open to kids from 3-15 years old. There will be three courses supervised by veteran riders — a Tykes course for the youngest riders where tricycles are welcome, a 2.5-mile Crusader course, and a 7-mile Challenge course extending into Wompatuck State Park. Activities for the morning event will include a post-ride party with refreshments, t-shirts, a goody bag, entertainment, and raffles. The PMC Hingham Kids Ride is a fun-filled day that teaches children the value of working for the benefit of others while promoting athletic fitness and enjoying family activities.

Kids can register on the PMC Hingham web site: https://kids.pmc.org/Hingham and start their fundraising using the ideas on the “Fundraising Tips” button. Kids can collect donations in the name of a relative or friend who is fighting cancer, dedicate their ride to a special person, or just enjoy the pleasures of philanthropy. If kids have a special fundraising idea, please share it by contacting Matt Dillis at PMCHingham@Comcast.net. Their ideas will be shared with other riders to help reach fundraising goals.

Registration is $10 per rider with a $25 cap per family. The Tykes and Crusader routes will be free of cars to ensure a safe ride. Grownups can participate by being a day-of-ride volunteer. Just click on the “Volunteer Registration” button to sign up and participate in this event while children are riding the course.

“We’re really excited about the ride this year. Harrison will be riding a two-wheeler!” Brennan exclaimed.

Brennan also said that his brother, George, created a blog (www.carepages.com) to update friends and family on his progress. Visitors to the site are asked to sign up before viewing content. Brennan’s page is called “franspage” and a May 6th entry by George reads as follows: “On his visit to Dana Farber last week, Fran, who celebrated his 51st birthday just a couple of weeks ago, got some more great news. His new stem cells are now producing blood at levels that are above normal. Incredible. Meanwhile, that day we’ve all been waiting for has finally arrived. Fran’s blood type has changed to Type A - , the same blood type as his donor.”

Brennan said that he really can’t complain about his recovery. “There’ve been some ups and downs,” he said. “There are physical and mental changes that occur after so much chemo. You reach for words, lose your train of thought, there’s memory loss. But it will gradually come back.”

And one memory he will surely keep with him is watching his children ride in his honor at this year’s PMC Challenge. “It will be exciting to finally be more involved,” he said.

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